TUSD appoints Kathy Perini Interim Superintendent

Elementary school principal Kathy Perini has been appointed by the Temple City Unified School District Board of Education on Monday to serve as its interim superintendent, officials said.

And in another matter, David Jaynes, the district’s chief business officer, gave his resignation on Monday.

The moves come as the district voted to place Superintendent Chelsea Kang-Smith on administrative leave at its Wednesday night meeting.

Perini, who has been with the district since the late 1970s as a teacher and administrator and was most recently the principal of Emperor Elementary School, said in a telephone interview on Monday that she is excited for chance to lead the district.

“It feels great,” said Perini, whose father Bill Perini also worked for the district for more than 40 years in several capacities. “I think it’s a wonderful opportunity for our district as we prepare to move forward. I think we’re poised to do incredible things. I hope to contribute any way I can.”